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Smaltz vs. Smalts

Hand Lettering topics: Sign Making, Design, Fabrication, Letterheads, Sign Books.

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Robare M. Novou
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Smaltz vs. Smalts

Post by Robare M. Novou »

Is it true that...

Smaltz means Glass Smaltz

and

Smalts means Sand Smalts.?

RMN
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Roderick Treece
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Re: Smaltz vs. Smalts

Post by Roderick Treece »

http://www.theletterheads.com/glawson/osmalto.html

"Omalto (Smalts) by Rick Glawson
(Note from Mike Jackson: Rick wrote several documents—some of which were printed in Signs of the Times Magazine over the years. This document was forwarded to me from John Jordan, but I have no knowledge of it being printed in the magazine)
Smalt is divided into two categories, glass and sand."
Kent Smith
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Re: Smaltz vs. Smalts

Post by Kent Smith »

Truely the word is smalt or smalts. Using a "z" was perhaps a nod to Germanic language or just for fun. In jest, some of us have said in the past that presuming using a "z" has more class, that Smaltz should be for glass and Smalts for sand. Since there are "just us" using the material and the terms, we could all agree and make a new definition.
Robare M. Novou
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Re: Smaltz vs. Smalts

Post by Robare M. Novou »

What say thee,

All those in favor say "Aye",

"AYE".!

All those opposed say "Nay",


The "Ayes" have it, the measure is adopted and approved.

Now if we could just get the manufacturers of sand smalt and glass smalt to approve and adopted the new terminology...


RMN
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Kent Smith
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Re: Smaltz vs. Smalts

Post by Kent Smith »

good luck getting mfg to cooperate.
Danny Baronian
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Re: Smaltz vs. Smalts

Post by Danny Baronian »

Before you appoint yourself a one man committee, what about frit? :)

Since frit has been used since 1662 - when did smalts come into use, and how did it's use in glass ware/ jewelry /stained glass migrate to the sign trade?

As for sand smalt, various old sign manuals had recipes for sand smaltz and was just that, painted sand. I doubt sand smaltz was ever offed commercially, as it was made up from shop to shop as needed.

Don't forget black beauty and other varieties of slags. They're neither sand nor glass, but are also sold as smaltz.
Danny Baronian
Baronian Mfg.
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Robare M. Novou
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Re: Smaltz vs. Smalts

Post by Robare M. Novou »

Yeah...how 'bout our Cousin Frit.

You'd think he'd have something to say about this.

After all, it was supposedly Frit that started all this in the first place.
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Dan Seese
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Re: Smaltz vs. Smalts

Post by Dan Seese »

I'm afraid this whole conversation is getting a bit schmaltzy!
Dan
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